Jakarta – Despite being one of the main backers of the 212 rally last year, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has not given its endorsement for this year's reunion rally taking place at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Saturday.

MUI chairman Ma'ruf Amin said the rally held on Dec. 2, 2016 had achieved its goals and there was no need to hold a reunion event.

"The issues surrounding the rally last year have been concluded, so we don't need to revive the 212 rally. It is better for the people to gather and celebrate Maulid [the birthday of Prophet Muhammad] that could strengthen our unity," he said on Friday as reported by tempo.co.

The 212 rally called for the imprisonment of former Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama for his comments that were deemed to have insulted Islam last year. This year's reunion event saw a smaller number of participants compared to the hundreds of thousands who gathered last year.

Ma'ruf added that the reunion would only provoke prejudice and insinuate criticism toward the government. "[The event] was not tausyiah [sermon] but rather provoked agitation," he added. (nmn/rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/02/no-mui-endorsement-for-212-reunion-rally.html